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Weight Reduction- Treating Obesity |
Edward Lichten, M.D.,PC |
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OVERVIEW: Telling a patient to count calories just doesn't work for the majority of overweight individuals. Even when calorie counting restricts intake to less than 1800 calories per day, weight loss may not occur says Dr. Edward Lichten. These individuals who are diligent about following a diet, exercise and have their hormones therapy balanced, need special intervention. LABORATORY TESTING: The key is performing a 3-hour glucose tolerance test with insulin levels (GTT-I). The graph will look like a tent, if the glucose and insulin levels rebound symmetrically. CARBOHYDRATE SENSITIVITY: These individuals find that they crave carbohydrates because the diet produces rapid rise in simple sugars. In turn, the body releases excess insulin which turns the glucose into fat, not energy to burn. The rapid insulin spike causes a drop in blood glucose that triggers a need to increase intake of more simple carbohydrates. Many of these individuals have almost flat GTT-I test implying that the change in diet should be excellent. TREATMENT PLAN #1: The modified Mediterranean diet is the basis for the medical intervention. Combine this with a protein shake 2 times per day, and begin an exercise program on 30 minutes at least 5 days per week. And drink a lot of water, says Lichten. Add at least 64-80- ounces of water every day.
TRUE METABOLIC SYNDROME: The metabolic syndrome is evidenced of pre-diabetes. Not only does the rise and fall of the glucose (sugar) levels in the 3-hour GTT-I reach diabetic levels (glucose over 165mg/ml), but the disruption of the normal insulin response becomes more severe. When the metabolic syndrome becomes diabetes, the body is unable to produce enough insulin to keep up with the glycemic demand. TREATMENT PLAN #2: The diet needs to be more of a 'cave-man' diet: fish, green vegetables, 4-6 meals per day and very little simple carbohydrates (fruits) except with breakfast. The key to this diet is not allowing the body to over-react to any simple sugars so there are no breads, pasta and no dairy. Goat cheese is allowed however. In lieu of fish, 4 grams of fish oil can be taken with digestive enzymes daily. Medically, the physician can add metformin to slow the absorption of glucose from the gastro-intestinal tract. HORMONAL IMBALANCE: It is impossible to lose weight when the endocrine system is dysfunctional. Raising the baseline body temperature by one-degree equates to 50 pounds of weight in one year. That is why hormonal testing by an expert is mandatory. If you have cold hands, feet, slow speech, can't think clearly, check out thyroid disease. If there are menstrual irregularities, check out menopause and polycystic ovarian syndrome. FOOD
HYPERSENSITIVITY: Wheat and milk are the most common reactors that
trigger physical changes in the gastro-intestinal tract. These changes in
lectin, causes localized inflammation a TOXIC OVERLOAD: In patients with chronic illness, the toxins build up in the body and affect the liver. Therefore, the body has trouble burning fat, as part of the energy. metabolism. A complete gluten free diet for 4 weeks, and supportive liver detoxification with milk thistle and vitamins and herbs, can only to helpful. SUMMARY: Diet loss is best managed by seeing the health professional who can evaluate your 3-hr GTT-I and make nutritional, hormonal, vitamin and mineral replacements.
TWO NEW MEDICATIONS: Two new medications may promote weight loss through pituitary and brain releasing hormones. Clincial studies are ongoing with the use of GEREF and pituitary look-alike hormones in association with a strict diet. No claims are made either for or against these therapies as the study is ongoing. For more information, call 248.593.9999.
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 Obesity in cartoons
Glucose Tolerance Test
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nd carbohydrate craving. Green
vegetables and vitamins can turn off this inflammatory response.
Typically associated symptoms include boggy and clogged nasal passages,
chronic sinus infections, and even hives 24 hours after eating specific
foods. Although some will measure IgG levels, it is simpler to remove the
offending foods from the diet for 6 months.